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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
TEAMS have started arriving for the African Swimming Confederation (Cana) Zone IV Championships that start tomorrow at Bulawayo’s City Pool and end on Sunday.

At least 280 athletes from 11 countries, Seychelles, Angola, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and the hosts Zimbabwe are expected to participate in the Cana Championships.

Cana Zone IV Swimming Championships is an International Swimming Federation (Fina)-approved event at which swimmers can achieve qualifying times for the 17th Fina World Championships due for Budapest, Hungary, in 2017.

Media and protocol liaison of the local organising committee Mary Mankola said they expect all the teams to be accredited today.

“Accreditation of athletes is already underway and we’re done with Seychelles, part of Team Angola and Kenya. Madagascar and Swaziland are no longer coming for the championships.

“Three teams, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique are all coming by road with the rest of the countries flying in through JM Nkomo International Airport,” said Mankola.

Last Friday, Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane briefed Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko on the country’s state of preparedness for the Cana Championships and was happy with the preparations.

Hlongwane said an Inter-Ministerial Committee had been put in place to oversee the hosting of the championships to ensure that the Cana Championships are a memorable event.

The Government has provided financial and material support to ensure the games are a success.

City Pool will be the Command Centre as well as the venue for both swimming and water polo.

The facility meets Olympic standards having been renovated when the country played host to the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games.

Rainbow Hotel and Holiday Inn will be the Games Village.

@ZililoR